Scottish Culture Secretary slams council over ‘shameful’ museum closure

Scottish Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has criticised Edinburgh Council over the “shameful” closure of the People’s Story Museum during a session in parliament.

Following a £26m budget shortfall, Edinburgh Council proposed closing the museum for seven months as a cost-saving measure before it emerged that the venue had already been shuttered for two months due to staff shortages and a recruitment freeze.

Responding to a question from Conservative MSP for Lothian Miles Briggs, who asked if the Scottish government could offer support to allow the venue to re-open, Robertson said he was in discussions with the council.

“Something that has caused absolute consternation is that the closure was announced before any consultation, which is frankly shocking from a Labour-led council that it should do such a thing,” Robertson said.

Asked by Labour MSP for Lothian Foysol Choudhury if “consistent under-funding” of local authorities by government could put more cultural venues at risk, Robertson said: “Buck-passing by the Labour Party on the closure of the People’s Story – set up by the Labour Party, closed without any consultation – and Mr Choudhury comes here and suggests that that has something to do with the Scottish Government.

“It’s got nothing to do with the Scottish Government and everything to do with the wrong priorities of the Labour Party.

“Yes, I have asked Museums and Galleries Scotland to become involved. But…the frankly shameful behaviour of the city council has been exposed and alone through that, I believe the temporary closure will have to be lifted.

“It is absolutely unsustainable and we should be hearing apologies from the Labour benches rather than buck-passing.”